Refrigerator door canteen



Ap 1965 J. J. GIACALONE ETAL REFRIGERATOR DOOR CANTEEN 3 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Dec. 18, 1963 5 5 w mmm Na E C U wwm W m d. A J.V 5 nm WW I 04 aJMY my 4 B M mm m m April 13, 1965 J. J. GIACALONE ETAL 3,178,061

REFRIGERATOR DOOR CANTEEN 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 18, 1963 p 13,1955 J. J. GIACALONE ETAL 3,178,061

REFRIGERATOR DOOR CANTEEN 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 18, 1963 INVENTOR.JOSEPH J. G/flCflLO/VE [7147771514 M NARC/1E7 BY United States Patent3,178,061 REFRIGERATOR DOOR CANTEEN Joseph J. Giacaloue and Matthew V.Marchetti, both of 1207 E. 59th St, Brooklyn, N.Y. Filed Dec. 18, 1963,Ser. No. 331,581 Claims. (Cl. 222-76) This invention relates generallyto refrigerators and more particularly to a liquid cooler and dispenseron the door of a refrigerator.

Heretofore attempts have been made to provide a juice or liquiddispenser with a refrigerator door. These devices were designed tofulfill the need of a container which would keep the juice or liquidscool and at the same time provide an easily accessible outlet from thecontainer. These attempts in many instances have resulted in elaboratedevices frequently associated with a tube extending from the interior tothe exterior of the door. These structures are comparatively expensiveand are often a source of trouble because of mechanical failure in someof the working parts associated therewith. In these more elaboratestructures, it is also diflicult to maintain the desired standard ofcleanliness when the dispenser is used for juices, milk or other typesof liquids.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a liquidcooler and dispenser on the inside of a refrigerator door, therebymaking it possible to obtain cool juices or liquids conveniently with aminimum of effort.

Briefly stated, the present invention comprises a liquid or juicecontainer or containers releasably attached to the inner liner of arefrigerator door and having a discharge spout in engagement with aspring-loaded push bar which when actuated permits flow of liquid orjuice through the spout into a drinking glass or other receptacle placedadjacent the spout. In the course of its movement, the spring-loadedpush bar engages a spring-loaded valve which controls the flow of liquidor juice from the container.

Another object of the invention is to provide a liquid or juicecontainer which may be filled while assembled on a refrigerator door andwhich may be readily removed and dissassembled for cleaning purposes.

A specific object of the invention is to so position a liquid or juicecontainer or containers in a refrigerator door and exposed to thetemperature within the refigerator in such a manner that said containeror containers will occupy little space within the food chamber and isreadily accessible to one desiring to draw off liquid from a faucet orthe like, with which the container is provided, by the mere opening ofthe refrigerator door, or the container or containers may be quickly andeasily removed from the refrigerator for filling and cleaning and may bemoved to a position where the faucet may be positioned for dispensingthe contents of the container or containers.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a container formounting on a refrigreator door which is of simple construction, easy tooperate, inexpensive to manufacture, and efficient in operation.

For further comprehension of the invention and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which thevarious novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fragment of a re frigerator showingthe door in open position, embodying one form of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the plane of line 22 ofFIG. 1.

3,178,061 Patented Apr. 13, 1965 FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view ofone of the containers of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3A is a sectional view through the faucet.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary disassembled view of the door wall and socketmounting for the container, the socket being partially broken away.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the socket mounting.

FIG. 6 is a disassembled view of a refrigerator door and a containerembodying a modified form of the invention, the door being shown insection and the containing in elevation, with parts broken away.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the connecting plug shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view showing the connecting plug of FIG.6 in operative position.

FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of a modified form of mounting devicefor the containers.

FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of a container embodying yet anothermodified form of the invention.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the plane of theline 1ll11 of FIG. 10, with the cover of the container in separatedcondition.

FIG. 12 is a disassembled front perspective view of part of thecontainer of FIG. 10 showing the electrical and mechanical connectionbetween the cover and body of the container.

FIG. 13 is a vertical sectional view taken on the plane of the line 1313of FIG. 12, with the cover in closed condition.

FIG. 14 is a circuit digram of the parts of FIG. 10.

FIG. 15 is a part sectional and part elevational view of a modified formof switch mechanism for actuating the outlet valve in the faucet for usewith the container of FIG. 10.

FIG. 16 is a top perspective view of a valve actuating tube of FIG. 15,showing the end of the tube in open condition in dot-dash lines.

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a part of the wallof a container showing a modized form of socket mounting.

Referring now in detail to the various views of the drawings whereinsimilar reference numerals are used to indicate similar parts throughoutthe views, in FIG. 1 there is shown a portion of a domestic refrigeratoror cooling cabinet Ill having a food storage and cooling compartment 12therein, the food compartment being closed by a hinged door 14. The doorincludes the inner metal shell 16 and the outer metal shell 18, whichshells are firmly united with any preferred type of insulation 20confined therebetween.

In accordance with the invention, a pair of upper and lower horizontalshelves 22 and 24, respectively, are suitably mounted on the rear shell16 of the door. The upper shelf is spaced a considerable distance fromthe top of the door and is formed with an upstanding flange 26 along thefree outer edge thereof. The top edge of the flange is formed withspaced notches 23. The lower shelf 24 is also formed with an upstandingflange 30 along the outer free edge thereof whereby the shelf may beused for supporting bottles, containers or various items of food.

A plurality of containers 34 are shown supported side by side on the topshelf 22. While a plurality of containers are shown, the inventioncontemplates using only a single container 34, if desired.

The containers are similar in construction and each container is formedof suitable plastic material, but may be made of sheet metal, glass orthe like. If the container is composed of metal, it is to be understoodthat the-Wall of the container may be treated with porcelain, lacquer orother suitable material both inside and outside to produce a receptacleconforming in appearance to that of the interior of the refrigerator andwhich may be maintaind 'iii'a' clean,'sanitary condition. Each containeris semi-round in top plan, with a curved front wall 36, flat back wall38 and flat bottom wall 40, the top being open" to permit ready fillingof the container andthe cleaning of the interior thereof. The open topis closed by a rern'oyable 'cover 42 which is semi-round in shape togenial-mm the shape of the body of the container. A hble 441s formed inthe center of thecover. The cover includes a downwardly, extendingflange 46 as viewed "in FIGS. 2 and 3, the bottom free end 48 of theflange being offset inwardly of the remainder of the flahg'e' so as toform a shoulder 50 adapted to seat on the mileage of the walls of thebody of the container, in order to seal the coyer to the body. A pair ofcurved sdlid lugs 52 extends from the upper end ofthe rear wall 38, atthe sides thereof, and a single solid lug 514 extends from the rear wallat thebottomfcenter thereof. These lugs are disposed in'triangulararrangement and constitute plugs, i v

' The container is also provided with an aperture 60 in thec'ni'rvei dfront wall 36 adjacent the lower end thereof for the r e ception' of asuitable faucet 62. This faucet may be ofan y suitable construction andconsists of a tubular body portion 64 having one end reduced in diameterand extending into the opening 6}? in the wall 35 and is clamped td thefront wallby a nut 66 The inner end of the body is provided With atapered valve seat in communication with an inner chamber of the body64. A valve 68 is mounted upon the inner ends of the valve stem 70whichextends outwardly through the chamber of'the body 64. The valve is'yieldingly maintained in contact with the valve seat by means of aspring 72 posi tioned on the outer end of the valve stem 70 between ashoulder provided on the body 6 4 and a push button 74 secured to theouter end of stem 30.

' Another important feature of the present invention is the means foragitating the contents of the container 34. For this purpose, we haveprovidedan elongatedrod S carried by the cover 42, with a pair of blades82 secured to the free endthereof. One end of the rod extends throughtheopening 44 in the coyer42. The end is threaded to receive a corrugatedknob, 8 4 threaded to the end of the rod, and seated loosely on the topof the cover for rotating the rod and blades in order to stir .thecontents, A washer 86 is mounted on they rod inside of aridadiacerit tothe cover. The rod is readily rotated. by-

nianually rotating the knob 84, whereby the blades 82 willls tir up andagitate, the contentsof the container. 7

The container 34 is releasably mountedionthe door 14 byinserting theplugs 52 into. spaced pairs of socket structures formed in the dooradjacent the'top thereof, and'into a single socket structureformed inthe door just above the shelf22, .Eachfsocketstructure includes a" hole94 formed in the inner shell. 16 of the door 14 and finclu'des'a curvedrecess or pocket .96, formed in the insulation material 20, of the doorbehindeach hole 94. The recess or pocket Q6 conforms in shapeto theshape of the plug 52 so that the plug fits therein. rec e s s;9, asocket member. 9, 7 having a curvedhollow body'99f'shape d to conformto, the shape of therecess is'inserted. The socket member has an annularflange or base 101 engaging the surface of. shell 16 with adhesive 98 onits adjacent surface maintaining'it in contact with the, shell 16, Thebase 101 has adhesive 103 on its opposite surface'for adherenceto therear wall 38 of the container3 4 From the foregoing, it will beapparentthat while the containers 34 are located outside of the coolingchamber 12 of the refrigerator, the contents of thecontainers will 'be'as readily maintained in a cool sanitary condition as though thecontainers were positioned wholly within the cooling chamber and,without the disadvantage of occupying space inor limiting the capacityof the food orlcooling chamber. i

Into the.

F her t wil be r ed t at. by m unting he, can,

tainers on the door as illustrated, the contents of the containers maybe very readily withdrawn when the door is in an open or partially openposition, into a pitcher, drinking glass or other receptacle without itbeing necessary to disturb the contents of:the.c0oling.charnber. V

in FIGS 6 and 7, a modified form of releasable means for mounting thecontainer 34 on the door 14 is shown. This means comprises an elongatedlug structure including an annular flange or base 104, a solid lugmember 52 extending from one sidethereof with the horned end thereofextending downwardly, and another solid lug52 extending from the otherside thereof Wtih the horned end 162 extending upwardly. In using thiselongated lug structure, the rear wall 38 of the container 34 isprovided with pairs of spaced holes. 9.4 at the top adjacent the sidesthereof, and with a single hole 94, at the bottom center of. the rearwall. In each of the, holes 9,4, a curved hollow socket structure 106 isinserted with the curved body thereof positioned so that its horned endextends upwardly as shown in FIG. 6 and with the base 198 thereofimpinging againstthe, outer surface'of the Wall 38 In FIG. 8, one lug52' of theelongated plug is shown inserted in operative position in thesocket member 97' of the door 14 and the other plug 52 thereof is showninserted inthe socket 106 in the rear wall' 38'. whereby the containeris releasably supported on the door-14'. Y

"InFIG. 9, the containers 34" are shown positioned side by side and.attached to each other by a pair of. top. and bottom flat boards orslats 112and114, respectively. The boards or slats are formed with pairsof holes 116 in the'upper board or slat 112 andwith spaced singleholes118. in the bottom board or slat114 to receive the lugs 53" and 54",respectively. This produces a unitary structure facilitating mountingand demounting of the containers, on the refrigerator. door, the slatsbeingsuit-- ablyfastened. to the inner surface of thedoor.

FIGS. '10 to 13, inclusive, illustrate modifiedactuating apparatus foroperating the faucet62. By reason of this apparatus, the operation ofthe faucet is electrically actuated. The apparatus consists, of a hollowcylindrical casing 120 mou nted1on-the,cover 42 centrally thereof and,suitably fixed; thereto. The, casing comprises a side wall 12 a bottomwall 124 and a top wall 126. An

electric motor is housed in the bottom of: the casing and;a rechargeableelectric battery 132 in the top thereof supported ona shelf 134. Themotor isroperatively and electrically connected to the batterywherebythe motoris actuated. The battery isspringpressedihtoelectrioalconnection with the motorv bymeans of aspring .136. An opening 128. is formed in the centerof the bottom wall124 of. the. casing aligned with. an opening 129' in the body ofthecover 42 A rod Bo -extends through the alignedv openings 128 and 12? andis operatively con nected to the motor 130 atone end, the other endofthe rod extendinginto the interior of the. casing 34 with opposedblades 82 fixed on the inner free end thereof.- A pair of spaced metalplugs 138-is mounted on the top wall 126.and electrically connected tothe battery for recharging/the battery. The plugs are adapted to beplugged into a socket ofa source ofelectric motor power, such as thehouse supply. A pair. of conductors 140,

140 lead from the battery acrossthetop of the cover42 and downwardlyvthrough a slot142 formed in an enlarg ernent 144. formed on theperiphery.of-therfiange 46 The conductors are covered-by an insuof thecover. lating strip 146 extending into.the.slot. A pairof spaced metalplugs 148, 148 is connected to the ends of the conductors 140, 140.Theplugs extend outwardly of the bottom. end .of the slot. 142.

The top end of the front wall- 36* of the container is alsoformedwithan.enlargement150in line with the enlargement 144 on the cover. Metalsockets 152, 1-52are embedded in the enlargement 150 and connected tothe sockets 152, 152 are conductors 154, 154 leading downwardly alongthe front wall and being covered by an insulating strip 156. Adjacentthe bottom end of the front wall and in line with the enlargement 150there is an insulating box 158 releasably supported by a curved lug 160projecting from the box 158 and projecting into a hole 162 formed in thewall behind the box. An electrical switch is housed in the box includinga stationary switch member 163 and a movable switch member 165. A lever164 depends from the box and is formed with a forked end 166 at thebottom for interlocking with the stem 70 of the switch 68. The upper endof the lever is pivotally mounted by means of pivot pin 166 journalledin the sides of the box 158. Lever 164 carries the movable switch member165. In operation, when the cover 42 is placed in closed position on thebody of the container 34 the plugs 148 extend into the sockets 152 andelectrically connect the switch.

When button 74 is manually pushed inwardly lever 64 is moved inwardlymoving switch member 165 into contact with switch member 163 therebyclosing the circuit through the motor 130 whereby rod 80* is rotatedstirring up and agitating the contents of the container. At the sametime, the valve 68 is moved ofif of its seat and the liquid in thecontainer is discharged through the faucet 6%.

In FIGS. 15 and 16, a modified form of faucet 178 is shown having ahollow casing 172 with spout 174 at one end. A box-like enlargement 176is formed on the top of the casing above the spout and fitted in thisenlargement is a switch 178 with a movable switch member 180 extendingoutwardly of the box-like enlargement into the hollow body of thecasing. Conductors 182 lead into the switch 178. A valve controlling thedischarge of liquid is mounted in the casing with a movable part 184thereof projecting outwardly of the casing in the path of movement of ahandle or lever 186. In the center of the casing 172, there is aflexible tube member 183 having an open end stretched over the end of atube 190. The other end of the tube member 188 is formed of flexibleflaps 192 that are normally in closed condition as shown in FIG. 15. Theswitch member 180 of switch 178 is in the path of upward openingmovement of the flaps 192 so that when the handle 186 is manuallypressed down, the water valve is opened, permitting water to flowthrough the tube members 190 and 188 opening out the flaps 192 andforcing the movable switch member 180 upwardly to close the switch 178for actuating the faucet.

In FIG. 17, a modified form of mounting the curved hollow sockets 106*on the back wall 38' of the container 34 In this form, instead of anannular base such as the base 108 of FIG. 6, the body of the socketcurves upwardly as indicated at 198 into the recess formed by thereduction in diameter of the flange of the cover 42*.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of ourinvention, it is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to theprecise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes andmodifications may be made within the scope of the invention as definedin the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A combined liquid cooler and dispenser for a refrigerator including acabinet provided with a cooling compartment, a door for the compartmenthingedly con nected to the cabinet, and a shelf across the inner surfaceof the door, said dispenser including a plurality of liquid containerson the shelf, each container having a curved front wall, a fiat backwall, and an open top, a removable cover for said open top, each saidcontainer having an outlet opening in the front wall, said back wallhaving spaced openings therein, a faucet connected to each outletopening whereby the contents of the container may be readily withdrawnwhen the door is in an open position, and means for removably securingeach container to the door including elongated lug members, each lugmember being oppositely curved at its ends, one end engaging in anopening in the door and the other end engaging in an opening in therespective container.

2. A combined liquid cooler and dispenser for a refrigerator including acabinet provided with a cooling compartment, and a door for thecompartment hingedly connected to the cabinet, said dispenser includinga plurality of liquid containers in side by side relation, saidcontainers each having a fiat wall with spaced curved lugs projectingfrom said wall, spaced slats across the rear flat walls of thecontainers, said slats having spaced holes to receive the curved lugs,said slats being secured to the rear walls forming a unitary structure,said containers each having an open top, a removable cover for said opentop, each of said containers having an outlet opening in the front wall,a faucet connected to each outlet opening, whereby the contents of thecontainer may be readily withdrawn when the door is in an open position,said slats being secured to the inner surface of the door.

3. A combined liquid cooler and dispenser for a refrigerator including acabinet provided with a cooling compartment, a door for the compartmenthingedly connected to the cabinet, and a shelf across the inner surf-aceof the door, said dispenser including at least one liquid containerremovably mounted on the shelf, said container having a front curvedwall, a fiat back wall, an open top, a removable cover for the open top,said container having an outlet opening in the front wall at the bottomthereof, a faucet connected to the outlet opening whereby the contentsof the container may be readily withdrawn when the door is in openposition, and means for agitating the contents of the container, saidagitating means including a hollow cylindrical casing on the cover, anelectrical motor in the casing, a battery in the casing operativelyconnected to the motor, an electric switch in said connection, arotatable rod operatively connected to the motor and depending into theinterior of the container, and means associated with the faucet wherebyupon opening of the faucet for discharging the contents the circuitthrough the motor is closed and the rod rotated for agitating thecontents.

4. A combined liquid cooler and dispenser for a refrigerator including acabinet provided with a cooling compartment, a door for the compartmenthingedly connected to the cabinet, and a shelf across the inner surfaceof the door at said dispenser including at least one liquid containerremovably mounted on the shelf, said con tainer having a front curvedwall, a fiat back Wall, an open top, a removable cover for the open top,said container having an outlet opening in the front wall at the bottomthereof, a faucet assembly connected to the out let opening whereby thecontents of the container may be readily withdrawn when the door is inan open position, said faucet assembly including a movable valve member,a movable stem carrying the valve member and a push button for manuallymoving said stem and means for agitating the contents of the container,said agitating means including a hollow cylindrical casing on the cover,an electrical motor in the casing, a battery in the casing operativelyconnected to the motor, an electric switch in said connection, arotatable rod operatively connected to the motor and depending into theinterior of the container, said switch including a stationary switchmember and a movable switch member, a pivoted lever connected to themovable switch member, said lever having a bifurcated end in contactwith said push button whereupon movement of the push button closes thecircuit through the motor for rotating the rod to agitate the contents.

5 A combined liquid coolenand'dispenser fora re frigerator includingiacabinet provided with a cooling compartmentfia door-for the compartmentvhingedlyf 'connected to the cabinetgand' a shelfacross the inner surfaceof the door, said-dispenser includingaplurality of liquid containersonthe shelf; each container "having; an open top;a removable coverforsaid *op'e'nj top; each said;con-- tainer havingwin-inletbpening andfan-outlet" opening 'a tents; of the: container may-the readilyWithdrawn when dodnfor rem'ovably securing the "containers on theshelf,;

said {door having spaced socket openings'in the inner" surfacethereof;curved lugs projecti-n'g from'each con tairier removablyinterlocked;with theedgesy' of said sockeflopening's; a --rotat-ab1erod-dependingfrom each cover-into} the interior 'of eachcontainer, blades-on theinn'er'endbf thef-rodfof-agitating" the 'contents and meansforr'otatingsaid'rod consisting of a'casing on top of the L of thefaucet.

References Cited by therExaminera P UNITED" STATES PATENTS 1,039361.9/12-.=Dehn-: 248774116X, 2,031,283 H 2/36 Scofield 222- 184 2,052,4668/36 Heise-et a1, 62-377 2,408,704 :10[46 Tay1or 222-132 X 2,775,877- 21/57 Bruntjen- 62-+392 3,096,913 7/63 C0r1ey- 222+181.X

V FOREIGNJPATENTS 678,906 4/30' Fr-anceg LOUIS J. DEMBRO,PrimaryExdmine'r';

1. A COMBINED LIQUID COOLER AND DISPENSER FOR A REFRIGERATOR INCLUDING ACABINET PROVIDED WITH A COOLING COMPARTMENT, A DOOR FOR THE COMPARTMENTHINGEDLY CONNECTED TO THE CABINET, AND A SHELF ACROSS THE INNER SURFACEOF THE DOOR, SAID DISPENSER INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF LIQUID CONTAINERSON THE SHELF, EACH CONTAINER HAVING A CURVED FRONT WALL, A FLAT BACKWALL, AND AN OPEN TOP, A REMOVABLE COVER FOR SAID OPEN TOP, EACH SAIDCONTAINER HAVING AN OUTLET OPENING IN THE FRONT WALL, SAID BACK WALLHAVING